Gas-producer.



R. V. PARNHAM.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.19, 1910.

Patented July 4, 1911. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH coL, WASHINGTON. D. c

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GAS-PRODUCER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Application filed December 19, 1910. Serial No. 598,193.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, REGINALD VANDEZEE FARNHAM, of Audley End,Skelmorlie, Ayrshire, Scotland, engineer, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Gas-Producers; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invent-ion relates to gas producers of the suction or pressure typewherein the fuel is fed at each fresh charge on to a vertically movablegrate immovable horizontally and cooperating with an independenthorizontally movable support disposed above said vertically movablegrate, the vertically movable grate serving in its upward movement tocompress the mass above, while the gases arising from the fresh charge.are caused to pass through the incandescent mass resting above the freshcharge, and the volatile matters and hydrocarbons are resolved intofixed gases.

The invention consists in the arrangement of gearing hereinafterparticularly described for operating the horizontally and verticallymovable supports.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a part elevation part vertical section, andFig. 2 is a plan of a gas producer equipped with the improvedarrangement of gearing. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantiallyat right angles to Fig. 1 of the gearing shown at the right in thelatter figure. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale,taken substantially on the plane of the spindles X, X, Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, the producer comprises a central combustionchamber A. of firebrick located within a metal casing B which rests oncolumns or supports a, the upper end of the combustion chamber beingsurmounted by a hopper D (Fig. 2), through which is fed the fuel atstarting, the gases generated being led from the combustion chamber byway of the outlet E (Fig. 2).

The devices for lifting the grate G are fitted below the same, thesedevices being operated from outside the casing B and comprising toothedracks F secured to the grate C, and pinions Gr secured to shafts H andin gear with said racks F which racks extend through the base of thecasing B and are preferably circular in cross section. The shafts H aremounted in bearings on the base of the casing B and to each shaft issecured a worm wheel I which is located within a casing J and is adaptedto be operated by a worm K on a shaft L provided with a worm wheel M ingear with a worm N on a shaft which is operated from the shaft P of anelectric motor Q, as by means of bevel gear wheels R and S and a clutchmember T having two clutch faces and slidably mounted at the inner endof the shaft P, and operated by a pivoted lever U (Figs. 2 and 4E) saidbevel wheel R being freely mounted on the shaft P and being providedwith a clutch face adapted to be engaged by one face of said clutch T.fit about the height to which the grate C is intended to be raised thereis provided a gulde V-in which a perforated metal plate TV is arrangedto be slid horizontally so as to pass through the incandescent fuel andto sup-port all the fuel in the combustion chamber temporarily and thuspermit the grate to be lowered. The plate W is operated by means ofscrew-threaded spindles X engaging nuts Y secured to said plate, each ofsaid spindles X being adapted to be rotated by means of a worm wheel Zand worm b which are also located within said casing J, the worms I)being secured to a shaft 0 co-axial with the motor shaft P and adaptedto be connected to said shaft P by means of the clutch T engaging acorresponding clutch face 6 at the inner end of the shaft 0. If desired,the shaft P may be rotated by a hand wheel cl secured thereto.

It will be understood that the member T is adapted to engage alternatelythe clutch face on the bevel gear R and so couple the bevel gear R tothe shaft P, and to engage a clutch face at the inner end of the shaft 0and so couple the shaft 0 with the shaft P so that when the shaft 0 isin rotative engagement with the clutch T the bevel gear will bedisengaged from the shaft P, and vice versa. The clutch T thus serves toconnect the motor shaft P with the gearing which operates the shaft H,and with the shaft 0 which operates the screw-shafts X, X alternatively,so that when the shaft H is in geared engagement with the shaft P,through the bevel gear R, the shaft 0 will be disengaged from the saidmotor shaft; and when the said shaft 0 is connected with the shaft Pthrough the clutch T the bevel gear R will be disengaged from the shaftP, so that the gearing connecting said bevel gear R with the shaft Hwill be thrown out of operation. It will also be understood that by thedescribed construction of gearing which controls the movement of thegrate and the sliding plate a compact and protected arrangement ofgearing is pro vided; and the grate and the sliding plate beinginterconnected as described they cannot be operated simultaneously.

Vhat I claim is 1. In a gas producer, the combination with a gratemovable only in a vertical plane, of an independent horizontally movablefuel support disposed above said vertically movable grate, means foroperating said grate, means for operating said support, and devices foractuating said grate and said support-operating means, said devicesbeing so arranged that only one of said operating means can be actuatedby said devices at a time.

2. In a gas producer, the combination with a grate movable only in avertical plane, of an independent horizontally movable fuel supportdisposed above said vertically movable grate, means including Wormgearing for operating said grate, means including worm gearing foroperating said support; a motor shaft and a clutch adapted to couple themotor shaft with said grate-operating means and with saidsupport-operating means alternatively.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

REGINALD VANDEZEE FARNHAM.

Vitnesses:

WVALLACE CRANs'roN FAIRWEATHER, JOHN MGCLEARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

